Thousands Of People Overdosed On Ozempic & Wegovy This Year – Poison Control Experts Explain Why

Poison control centers have noticed a large increase in calls regarding overdoses of semaglutide, the main active ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy.

A report from America’s Poison Centers stated that, from January to November 2023, there were almost 3,000 calls about the injectable ingredient.

Most people accidentally took two doses or the incorrect dose.

Semaglutide has become very popular over the last year.

Ozempic and Wegovy have become famous for their ability to assist people in weight loss and lowering blood sugar. 

They belong to a class of drugs known as glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists. These drugs imitate the GLP-1 hormone released in the gastrointestinal tract after eating.

The FDA stated this ingredient helps stimulate insulin production in the body, thereby possibly leading to a decrease in blood sugar. It also gives feelings of fullness to the brain.

Semaglutide medications have been in short supply due to a rapid growth in their popularity.

It is possible to overdose on Ozempic or Wegovy.

Additionally, scientists said that people might have problems if they have not taken the medication for a few weeks and then try to start it back up at the same dose they had previously been at.

The America’s Poison Centers report showed that some people affected by the overdoses were hospitalized with symptoms such as stomach pain, vomiting and extreme nausea. They usually received successful treatments with IV fluids and anti-nausea medications.

Experts mentioned that potential signs of overdosing on Ozempic and Wegovy included nausea, constipation, vomiting, heartburn, headache, rapid heart rate, sweating, confusion and delirium.

Based on the way semaglutide is designed, it is not likely to cause drastically low blood sugar in people who do not take supplemental insulin.

Signs of a semaglutide overdose might seem similar to the side effects of Ozempic and Wegovy. However, experts have noted that symptoms have a tendency to be more severe and might come on right away whenever too much has been taken.

Overdoses are not likely to be fatal, but experts clarified that in very rare scenarios, they could lead to pancreatitis, which is life-threatening in severe cases.

While it might be uncomfortable taking too much semaglutide, it is not exactly dangerous. The drug comes with a risk of dehydration. This may present issues if left untreated.

According to Ali, semaglutide is dispensed in different doses, and doctors will frequently start patients at a lower dose before increasing it to a higher amount if necessary. Those specific doses normally range from 0.25 milligrams to 2.4 milligrams.

Dosages increase gradually to lower the risk of side effects.

Patients can still have side effects at lower doses, but the body often gets accustomed to the medication as time goes on, ergo making side effects less noticeable.

Fans of Kelly Clarkson have recently noticed that she has been losing weight and many assumed that it was due to Ozempic.

When Oprah Winfrey posed on the red carpet during the premiere of The Color Purple in Los Angeles on December 6, fans noticed her slimmed-down figure and wondered if she had been taking Ozempic. Oprah later confirmed that she is taking weight loss drugs.

Sharon Osbourne said she regrets the 42 pounds she lost using Ozempic.